[PAUL III] _

£4,250 · Offered by Sokol Books

Extremely rare document unrecorded in major bibliographies reproducing a papal bull for the Ottoman wars, sent by Paul III to dioceses in the Spanish Empire in 1543. It begins with a Castilian summary, followed by the Latin text, in the name of Cardinal Garcia de Loaysa, bishop of Seville; in particular, this printed document was addressed to the prelates, abbots and clerics holding benefices in the dioceses of Cartajena, the name added in ink in the dedicated blank. The original was presented by Alonso de Baeça, treasurer of the king, and requested _ of ecclesiastical revenue in the years 1543-44 from the reigns of Castile and Aragon, in order to set up two armadas (by land and sea). They were meant to increase defence against the Turks after their conquest of the western part of Hungary. The document was authenticated by the notary Jacobus Gratianus (Diego Graci√°n de Alderete), also a humanist and correspondent of Erasmus. On the verso is a statement addressed to whoever would be handling the document, that it should be shown to a specific person or officer (illegible) upon request.

• Binding: Hardcover

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